Monday, February 1, 2010

Follow the Rainbow to Perfect Health!

EAT RED toMake yourself disease-proof!

Stoplight shaded fruits and veggies not only catch the eye but also have many of the top 20 most potent antioxidants. Lycopene, packed into tomatoes, watermelon and red bell pepper, has been found to prevent heart disease and estrogen-related cancers. And red apples are rich in quercetin, a proven heart-health booster.

EAT ORANGE toLower your cholesterol!

The same compound that makes food orange also lowers cholesterol and blood pressure!Carrots, in particular, boost high amounts of a fiber called calcuim pectate, shown to regulatehigh cholesterol. In a recent government study, people who munched a cup of carrots a dayaveraged an 11% drop in blood cholesterol after only three weeks! Prefer oranges? Universityof Western Toronto researchers found drinking three 8-ounce glasses of OJ a day increasesHDL ("good") cholesterol by 21% and reduces LDL ("bad") cholesterol by 16%!

EAT YELLOW toEase digestion!

Yellow foods soothe stomachaches and improve gastrointestinal health, research shows. Onemango contains 7 grams of bowel-friendly fiber, while papayas are rich in an enzyme that helpsyou digest protein and carbohydrates. And bananas ease any intestinal distress.

EAT GREEN toProtect your eyesight!

Leafy greens like watercress, kale, collard, mustard greens and spinach are filled with lutein, achemical that protects the eyes from aging. It's even been found to lower the odds ofdeveloping macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss in folks older than50, by 43%. Lutein also lowers breast cancer risk, according to the National Cancer Institute-and since cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cabbage are also filled with cancer reducingchemicals called indoles, eating just a cup or so a day can keep your eyes young and preventcancer too!

EAT BLUE toKeep your brain sharp!

Studies have found that anthocyanins, the antioxidants responsible for blueberries color, canalso heighten learning capacity, motor skills and memory. They can even keep your brainyoung: Joint studies from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and the National Instituteof Aging found that berries protect against cognitive impairment and even Alzheimers disease!And just a handful a day is enough to do the trick.

EAT PURPLE toStay limber!

Foods of a royal hue like grapes, figs, prunes, raisins and plums help prevent joint problems,studies show. Grapes are loaded with antioxidants proven to reduce the inflammationassociated with arthritis, and they also contain boron, a mineral shown to relieve even severejoint pain!